Landing and taking-off station for airplanes



TAKEN@ LANDING Filed Mash 15, 1923 W. J. ENNISSGN LANDING .QND TAKING-OFP` STATION FOR AIHPLANES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed MaCh l5, 15923 Feb. 22 1927?"e w. J. ENNnssoN l LANDING AND T-AKI NG OFF STATION FOR AIRPLANES 1923 5 Sheets-Smeltl i5' Filed March 15.

Patented Feb. 22, 1,927.

y UNITED STATES PATENTA OFFICE.

WALTEB'J'AY ENNISSON, OF BROOKLYN, `NIJW YORK.

LANDING AND TAKING-OFF STATION FOR AIRPLANES.

Application led Iarch 15, 1923.

At present a considerable area is necessary in order to permit airplanes to land and takel flight in safety, and for this reason such stations are usually located at some distance from urban districts, where clear space for runways is for the most part unavailable.

For mail and commercial uses the limitation indicated constitutes a most serious disadvantage, and the delay' caused by the surface travel necessary to rea-ch relatively remote stations, not only offsets much of the potential gain in aerial transportation, but in many cases such delay -wouldabsolutely nullify the chief advantage, that is, the

time saving element, of overhead transit.

Furthermore, the extension of aerial routes over mountain ranges and through country otherwise topographically unsuitable for landings, is dlscouraged and retarded by the difficulty of-` establishing suitable station fields where desired.

In 'overcoming such obstacles my inven tion will make feasible the laying out of regular routes of travel over the most direct lines between given points; and accordingly at predetermined intervals along a chosen air line, for example, rest stations may be established and circuitous detours thereby rendered unnecessary to reach favorable landing areas, as now found imperative.

Qr, on the other hand, should it be found desirable in establishing' an aerial line to follow more or'less closely existing rail routes from one populous center to another, sta- ,tions having the relatively long and narrow dimensions herein shown and described could be most conveniently employed along the railway right-of-way, which is usually of restricted width. Hence, my invention lends itself to mail transportation and distribution with peculiar adaptability along estab lished lines, and makes ssible enlarged benefits to the public in t is important respect. Thus, by rendering the landings and an aerial mail carrier would be enabled to make intermediate stops at negligible cost in loss of time, and by delivering and taking `up so-called fast mail, thereby serve the :tops of which they extend.

takings cifmore convenientand practicable.k

Serial No. 625,329.

smaller towns and cities that lie in its general path of travel between the large centers.

An object of my invention, therefore, is toprovide aviation stations that can be est-ablished at points most convenient and desirable along predetermined routes, irrespective ofthe topography of the country and at a minimum cost in engineering effort and expense.

Another object of'my invention is to provide aviation sta-tions which can be economically established at points suitable for business and other reasons, and to meet other considerations and desiderata, irrespective of surface conditions of the region vvQhere/il/*l Y be desirable to locate stations.

further object is to provide a station of vthis character which will assist a pilot in landing or in taking off in a limited space, with' safety, regardless of the direction of the wind, which station can be utilized by aircraft of present designs without altera'- tions in special construction of the latter, Y and which will not cause injury to the airplanes in landing or in starting.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby aerial navigation routes may be established most advantaw-f geously over chosen lines, irrespective'of surface obstacles and other unfavorable topographical conditions.

Other objects and advantages will be apvparent .from the following description and the novel features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in claims.

In its general aspect my invention, briefly statedcomprises a landing platform or roadway, which referably connects two elevated levels supplied by towers of substantiallyy the same height or altitude, the platform curving downwardly from each. This arrangement is conveniently provided by suspending the platform or roadway at its ends and thus causing it'to assume generally the lines of a catenary, the roadway being constructed preferably of .pla-tes resting upon cables suspended from the towers over the At either` one or both -of the terminals, upon or adjacent to the level surfaces of the roadway, ma convenientl hangars for t e storage an repalr of airplanes. The inventiony further comprises certain details of construction4 of the Vtowers be provided and roadway which will be more fully hereinafter described and illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1. is an elevation illustrating an aviation station constructed in accordance with my invention in position over a built up section of a city.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the hangar at one terminal of the roadway.

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken trans* versely of a portion of the roadway having channel plate.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of portion of the roadway shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. G and 7 are partial views showing respectively a plan view and a transverse section of a portion of the roadway formed of flat plates.

Figs. 8, 9 and 1() are side, end and plan views respectively of sloping channel plate.

Fig. 1l is a detail relating to cable supports.

In the illustrated embodiment of my inventina I provide al pair of elevated struc-- turcs or towers 1 and 2 which may be of any suitable construction and located a predetermined distance apart. Between the towers a plurality of cables 3 are suspended, as

shown, and arranged substantially in the same plane and'parallel each to the others. Upon adjacent'pairs of cables are supported in a manner presently to be described, a sries of plates 4, 5 and 6, laid end to end, to supply roadway surface area.

The cables 3 extend across the top of the tower, building or other terminal support. of the suspended roadway in substantially the same relative arrangement as in the loop portion thereof except that here the cables .rest upon transversely disposed stringere 1U and 11, while between the tower supports they are less rigidly held. The stringers 11 are disposed at suitable intervals to form with the members 1() a level platform 15 whereon the machines can be brought to rest.

rlhe front. stringers 10 will have bearing edges rounded so as more` effectively to conform to the longitudinal curvature of the cables where they begin the catenary loop, the rearward Stringer 10 being similarly rounded to t the under surface of the cables as they are drawn down to effect an anchorage at a suitable place at or near the base of the tower, as best shown in Fig. 11.

A plurality of plates 4, 5 connected between adjacent cables are arranged end to end to form a continuous roadway from one tower to the other. These plates may be conveniently formed of sheet metal of suitable thickness and attached at their edges to adjacent cables by means of cylindriclugs 7, formed by looped lateral extensionsiat each side of the plates.

The width of the material forming the plates 4 is greater than the distance between the cables so that when the plates are formed up and put in place there is a V- shaped depression along their central portions and between the cables, which forms aA corrugated or grooved runway with the grooves or corrugations running in the direction of the cables. The lates are made of relatively thin, light-weight material, and by a plurality of perforations 8 in the por tions adjacent the cables, perform an additional function in preventing the accumula? tions of snow and water from accumulating in the paths of the roadway.

The plates 5 are preferably employed hetween the cables directly over a tower and are of a uniform width equal to the distance between the cables, so as to provide a relatively fiat roadway. rl`hus the roadway of the preferred embodiment illustrated is made made upy of' two types of plates, the V- shaped with their bottom lines below the level of the cables and the others in the plane thereof, and accordingly means are required for co-ordinating these different roadway surfaces at their point of union. Hence, at each end of thecentral suspended sections of the cables, and elsewhere as required, special plates 6 are provided which serve the purpose of supplying a continuous roadwa surface between the plates 4 and 5. lhese plates 6, in the flat, are cut something like a t keystone, i. e. the width of each plate at one end being equal to that of the V-shaped plates 4, and at the other end being substantially equal to the widths of the lates 5, or to the distance between the cab es. When there plates are hinged to the cables a groove is provided in each which extends from a maximum depth at one end to no depth at the other end. which provides a gradual change from the grooves or corrugations to the flat surfaces of the upper faces of the towers or structures 1 and 2.

The longitudinally grooved form of surface of the roadway composed of the bent plates 4 it will be apparent because of the enhanced guiding efficiency thereof, admits of the narrowing of the width of the roadway Without lowering the element of safety in alighting. If, on the other hand, suicient width is given the' suspended roadway to ermit the aviator to right his ship by its wn steering mechanism after alighting, the fiat plates could be used in oonstructing the entire roadway. And when de signing the V-shaped plates 4, the declivity of the sides thereof and the depth of the groove therein will be found to permit a considerable margin, of variation. The V depth of the groove is, of course, limited by the diameter of the wheels and other features of theunder gear of the airplane.

'The shape of the plate, however, having reference particularly to the angular pitch ting of a certain range of modification, must in any event have a declivity that will prevent any appreciable skidding of theairplane as it swings around into the guiding channels. This end however must be attained without administering too sudden a shock to the machine as it is being righted into its parallel course uoon the roadway.

Moreover, while the plates 4, as illustrated, have been given a substantially V- shaped groove construction, those plates may be made with flat bottoms and sides either vertically disposed or sloping up at` a predetermined angle to the cable connections without departing from the basic principles of my invention.

Furthermore, the plates forming the channels at or near the respective sides of the roadway may have their guiding surfaces yof the vertical type above mentioned, or

otherwise made more abrupt than in the central tiers, without affecting the ease of landing, and thereby renderin `it `possible stillfurther to narrow the roa way without hazarding safe landing thereon.

The detailed features of the roadway construction last ab'ove described refer primarily to the sus ended portion of the roadway, it being esigned as has already been seen to have the space at the to o the towers, which floor s ace is prefera ly maintained as a substantially level surface, and upon either one or both of the tgwers or supporting structures hangar space 16 may be provided on one or both sides of the fairway for storing machines and supplies or to be used as a repair shop or made to serve some equally advantageous purpose. V

In use, when an aviator desires to land, he` approaches one end of the roadway in a direction substantially parallel thereto and as much against the wind as possible, and glides down into engagement with the surface of the roadway. The usual running gear of the airplane will engage in the grooves or corrugations of the roadway k and guide the plane along the same, thuseliminating danger of jumping over the side.

The incline at each end acts as a brake for the airplane and assists in bringing the latter to a stop. If in landing the airplane *is proceeding in a direction crosswise or d1- agonally of the roadway, or if the planel is being carried sidewise to a slight extent by drift, due to the wind coming from one side,. the grooves will receive the running gear and guide thej plane properly along the roadway until it is brought to the toplevei.

The plane, after being brought to a stop, can be pulled around the level roadway to the proper spot for'D unloading, or .for being overhauled or stored, as may be required.

-When ,onedesires to-take oif with a plane termine the location and lates 5 cover the floor from the station of my invention, the plane is arranged at one end and started down the roadway., 'lhe grooves formed by the plates will support and guide the plane until the speed thereof is sufficient to cause it to support itself in the air and rise from the roadway. The downward starting slope assists in giving momentum tothe airplane., and if not lifting sooner, the upgrade at the other end will impart to the airplane an additional rising movement which greatly assists the take off. Should the direction of the wind render it necessary or preferable to start from the tower landing opposite that on which the machine is stationed, or for any reason it be found. desirable to shift from ,vl-Pone to the other, this result may lbe accomplished by soV regulating the ,power that the rmachine will traverse. the roadway without taking off.

For localizing thel station, a'plurality of lights 2O are shown arranged along both sides of the roadway to illuminate the same and enable the planes to land with safety in the night as Well as day time. Likewise its relatively great length admits of audible signals being established at its extremities to to aid the aviator in fog or mist to deeneral direction of the roadway upon whic he proposes to land and thus to guide him until the lightsy should become visible to him on more closely approaching the roadway.

The top of both towers may be in the same horizontal plane, as shown in the drawings, or. they may if desired be built up to dif` ferent levels. In 'Fi 1 towers are shown of different sizes, to ring their topsto the same level when mounted upon buildings of different heights.

Likewise in mountainous regions the hei ht of the towers themselves, one or bot will depend upon the dmmediate'to'pographical features of the selected location.

In localities of c .high and frequently changing winds, two of these roadways running in different directions and arranged in the form of a cross may be provided at any station, so as to increase the ease and facilor captive balloons properly anchored there'- itywith which an aviator will be able to land against the wind. Or, in wind favored districts, a single elevated support may be provided at one end, the platform in such case inclining therefrom in one direct-ion only, supplying asingle inclined roadway.

r'It/should be borne lin mindthat the esential/function of the tower element, however formed, is primarily to provide clearance space for a suspended roadway'above any irregularities of surface, whether urban, topogra'hical or otherwise, and secondarily to supp y a level surface forA hangar a-nd similar purposes, at the top of 4one or both of the towers.

Aist

Hence in many localities buildings of the desired dimensions and relative locations may be found available, without the superstructure shown in the drawings, to supply substantially all the functions of either one or both of the tower elements. In such ease the roof and walls of the building would be provided with suitable holding devices for supporting and anchoring the cables,

such for example as the means described for the supporting and anchoring thereof.

In thus specifying in more or less complete detail features of a preferred construction of the suspended roadway, as well as other structural features of my invention, it is fully recognized that other mechanical substitutes or equivalent means might be employed instead of those shown, without departing. from the spirit and Scope of my invention. That is to say, my invention includes a roadway suspended between relative elevations and extending as a continuous surface over the top or tops of the supporting elements.

I am aware that in the familiar structure of suspension bridges, cables are swung in catenary formation, from tower to towel' for sustaining the weight of a roadway, but in such construction the curved surface of the roadway does not partalte of the shape ofthe catenary of the cables but is supported from drop cables or rods connecting the two and oppositcly curved portions of the structure.

Obviously a lnost desirable qualification if not an indispensable requisite of a landing roadway for the use of airplanes is that its surface be kept above the level of the immediate surroundings and connections, and,

in view of this qualification or limitation I have constructed the roadway as has been seen at and upon the cables themselves, which in turn are thrown over the topmost portion of the towers that support them. Thus the surface of the roadway conforms to the catenary of the cables and accordingly the detailed construction of the preferred form of roadway has been thus described.

`While the catenary feature of the roadway is shown with supporting cables with plates attached as the preferredconstruction, obviousl the roadway of my invention while vretaining the essential characteristics as described could be formed on somewhat different lines. For example, the cables alone, held in sufficiently close proximity by any convenient means, could be made to supply the roadway in substantially the manner in which the plates as herein illustrated perform the function. Or, for a further example, the plates might be hinged or otherwise secured together end to end, thereby These and other possible equivalent modiications constitute unimportant details of construction which I desire to encompass in the broader aspect of my invention without more particular reference thereto.

Having described my invention, what I claim is :l

l. An aviation station, comprising a longitudinally corrugated roadway, and spaced terminals between which the roadway is suspended. y

52. An aviation station, comprising a longitudinally corrugated roadway suspended between spaced terminals.

An aviation station comprising a longitudinally grooved roadway supported between and extending over terminal structures forming substantially level zones thereon.

4. An aviation station, comprising spaced terminals, a plurality of cables stretched in parallel relation between the terminals, and curved plates connecting the cables to form a grooved roadway for receiving and guiding the usual running gear of an airplane.

v 5. An aviation station comprising spaced terminals and a plurality of cables stretched in parallel relation therebetween, plates connected to and supported by the cables to form a grooved roadway for receiving and guiding the running gear of an airplane.

6. An aviation station comprising a roadway, having cables with plates of self-sus -taining material supported thereon, spaced terminals between which the roadway?v is suspended, substantially level zones formed upon said terminals, and a hangar mounted upon said zones.

7. An aviation station comprising a longitudinally grooved roadway, spaced terminals between which-the roadway issuspended, and a hangar mounted on one of the terminals.

8. An aviation station comprising spaced elevated terminals, a plurality of cables stretched between the terminals, plates connecting the cables to form a grooved roadway for receiving and guidingthe usual running gear of an airplane, the plates adjacent the terminals having inclined bottoms leading froml the bottoms of the grooves to the plane of the cables.

9. An aviation station comprising terminals and a plurality of cables extending over said terminals and suspended therebetween, plates supported on the cables, a portion of which plates form a grooved roadway for receiving and guiding the usual running gear of an airplane, relatively flat plates attached to cables extending over the tops of said terminals and other plates adjacent said terminals having inclined botdispensing with the cables; in eitherevent Atoms leading from the bottoms of the a roadway with inclined planes at the ends would be provided.

grooves to the plane of the dat plates.

l0. An aviation station comprising a pluairplane.

12. An aviation station comprising spaced terminals, and a roadway suspended between the terminals substantially in the form of a catenary, said roadway having cables supported o'n said terminals and having plates of relatively thin, self-sustaining material supported on said cables.

13. An aviation station comprising platforms, and a landing roadway suspended as a catenarybetween the platforms with the surface of the roadway forming a substantial continuation of the platforms.

14:. An aviation station comprising elevated platforms, composed of cables and plates of relatively thin self-supportino' ma terial and a landing platform suspended as a catenary between the elevated platforms with the surface forming a substantial continuation of the platforms.

15. An aviation station both for airplane landing and taking off therefrom, said station comprising a pair of spaced terminals and a landing platform in the shape of a catenary supported by the terminals, said platforms comprising cables attached to said terminals and supporting thereon plates of relatively thin, self-supporting material.

16. An aviation station both for airplane landing and taking off therefrom, said station comprising a air of spaced terminals and a catenary lan ing platform connecting the terminals, said platforms comprising cables attached to said terminals and supporting thereon plates of relatively thin, selfsupporting material, y

17. An aviation station both for airplane landing and taking off therefrom, said station comprising spaced terminals, and a landing platform connecting the terminals and curving upwardly from itscenter, said platforms comprising cables attached to said terminals and supporting thereon plates of relatively thin, self-supporting material.

18. An aviation station both for airplane landing and taking oft' therefrom, said station comprising spaced terminals, and a landing platform connecting and supported by the terminals and curving downwardly toward its center, said platforms comprising cables attached to said terminals and supporting thereon plates of relatively thin, selfsupporting material.

19. An aviation station both for airplane landing and taking olf therefrom, said station comprising a substantially level platform of longitudinally disposed plates'v 0f sheet metal, an inclined suspended roadway extending laterally therefrom, surfaces of the roadway and platform substantially continuous.

20. An aviation station comprising s aced supports, cables suspended substantia ly in.

the form of a catenary therebetween, and a roadway supported by the cables, said roadway and supporting cables in substantially the same plane.

21. An aviation station comprising a relatively long and narrow roadway with means for comprising longitudinally disposed grooves for guiding airplanes thereon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER JAY ENNISSON.' 

